Philippines Senate bill proposes five-year terms for local officials

Senator Francis Escudero’s Senate Bill 2387, which proposes fixing the terms of office for barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) officials at five years, has gained multi-sectoral support during a Senate Subcommittee on Local Government hearing.

The proposal aims to provide long-term stability in grassroots governance by establishing a definite election schedule and preventing frequent postponements. Escudero clarified that the bill’s primary purpose is to fix the term length rather than simply extending current mandates, stating, “My bill does not extend. My bill fixes.”

Various organizations, including the National Youth Commission, Liga ng mga Barangay, and the National Citizens’ Movement for Free Elections, expressed support for the measure. Proponents argued that a five-year term allows local officials sufficient time to implement community programs, manage disaster response, and maintain peace and order without the disruptions of frequent election cycles. Under the bill, barangay officials may serve up to three consecutive terms, while SK officials would be limited to one term.